Nonglare flashlight



a. H. SEAL NONGLARP; FLASHL'IGHT Feb. 15; 1944.

Filed Feb. 2, 1942 1N VENT OR. H.5EAL

GEORGE BY AZTaeA EY Patented Feb. 15, 1944 2 341 22 NONGLARE FLASHLIGH'I George H. Seal, Glendale, Calif. Application February 2, 1942, Serial No. 429,172 3 Claims. (01. 24040.6)

" This invention relates .to a non-glare flashlight. The general object of the invention is to prothe threads IT. -The member I further includes vide a portable flashlight which includes a battery, switch, bulb and reflector and wherein novel means is provided for directing the light from the reflector so that glare is reduced.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a flashlight body having a novel nonglare light directing member on the front thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved non-glare assembly member adapted for use in a'flashlight.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel louvre member particularly adapted for use in a flashlight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel combined louvre and lens member for use in a flashlight.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means for aligning a louvre member on a flashlight.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a flashlight embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the non-glare assembly member;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the assembly member;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken online 4- 3., Fig. 3 showing the assembly member and showing a portion of the flashlight body;

Fig. 5 i a fragmentary enlarged detail showing a portion f the non-glare assembly member;

Fig, 6 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the front portion of the flashlight;

' Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the modification; and A Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the modification.

Referring to the drawing by reference character I have shown my invention as embodies in a flashlight which is indicated generally at I0. As shown the flashlight includes a hollow body H which may be made of suitable material such as metal and which may include suitablebatteries l2 and a switch mechanism lit. The flashlight also includes a front member indicated generally at M which comprises a sub-assembly member of such nature that it can be made and bead arranged adjacent to and in advance of a shoulder l9 adjacent to and in front of the bead l8; Y i

Within the member [5 I arrange a front transparent closure member 20 which engages the flange it. Also within the tubular member I5 I assembled and may be shipped independently of 1 the body if desired.

The member [4 includes a tubular portion l5 having an inwardly directed flange IE at the front end thereof. At the rear end the tubular member it includes threads I! and a peripheral arrange a ring 2| which constitutes a part of the louvre member. The ring 2| engages the rear face of the transparentmember 29. The ring 2i includes a plurality of parallel rearwardly.

directed louvre blades 22 which are secured to the ring. The ring 2| and the blades 22 may be made of suitable material such as Bakelite or other plastic material, or they may be made of metal and soldered or .welded together.

In the rear of the louvreblades 22 I show a light deflecting lens 23. This lens includes a planar rear face 24 and a front face provided with a plurality of rib-likeparallel lens mem-' bers 25. A groov 26 is formed between each pair of lens members 25 and the free ends of the louvre blades 22 fit in'the grooves 26 so that movement of the bladesi prevented. Thelens ribs .25 are of such configuration that each rib directsv the light passing therethrough forwardly and convergingly with the focus disposed at 2'! just in the rear of the'transparent member 26. Beyond the member 20 the light beams diverge. Light is supplied by a bulb 28 shown as mounted in a socket 29. The front end of the bulbis opaque as at 3|] so that light passing from the filament 3! of the bulb impinges on a reflector 32 in which the socket 29 is mounted. Light from. the reflector 32 passes through the deflecting lens 23 as described.

At the rear of the lens member 23, I arrange a gasket 33 and the gasket is engaged by a split ring 34 which fits in the bead l8 previously described. As shown in Fig. 5, the split ring 34 is. arouate in cross section and engages a peripheral flange 35 on the reflector 32 and serves to hold the latter in place.v The reflector 32 is engaged by a contact member 36 mounted in the body II and insulated from the body by an insulating strip 31.

The switch l3 and its construction and operation form no part of the present invention and a detailed description of the switch and the wiring arrangement is believed to be unnecessary.

In order to prevent rotation of the louvre member relative to the tubular portion 15, I provide the ring 2| with a notch indicated at 38 in Fig. 5, while the tubular member is provided with a corrugation 39 which enters the notch 38 when the parts are properly aligned. To center the tubular member IE on the body H so that the switch l3 will be directed upwardly when the louvres are horizontal, I show the tubular memper i5 as provided with a tongue 4.0 which ex tends beyond the thread IT. This tongue is resilient and is adapted to pass over beads 4| on the body ll while the member I5 is being screwed onto the member H. When in fully engaged position, the tongue 40 will be disposed between the beads 4| as shown in Fig. 6 so that the parts will remain in the correct position. In assembling the flashlight, the body .llkis.

cured at their front edges to said ring and extending rearwardly therefrom, the rear ends of said i :blades being coplanar, a light deflecting lens admade and the sub-assembly member I 4 vis made I independently of the body and the two parts are then connected together as described. In operation when the bulb 28 is illuminated, lightpasses from this bulb and strikes the reflector 32 whence the beams pass through the deflecting lens 23 and between the louvre blades22 and out through the transparent member 20. The ring 2|, blades 22 and interior of the forward portion of the tubular member 65 are blacked so that they will notreflect light.

The .light passing from the ,flashlight is directed straight ahead and there ar no upwardly directed rays which produce a glare. This absence of upwardly directed rays makes my light particularly useful for blackout purposes so that it is of value to the military and naval forces as well as to police authorities, and is of course useful for civilians.

In Figs. '1, 8 and .9 I show a modification of my invention wherein .a tubular member 50 is employed. This tubularmember includes a'front flange 5.1, a transparent member 52, alouvre ring 53 and louvre .blades 54 similar to the corresponding parts previously described. The tubujacent said tubular member shoulder and comprising-a transparent disc having a planar rear face and having a plurality of light transmitting ribs on the front face thereof, said deflecting lens having a groove between each pair of ribs, the

blades of .said louvre having their ends each engaging in a groove on the deflecting lens, a reflector in said tubular member, a split ring engaging the periphery of said reflector,said split ring being seated in said bead, a gasket engaging said split ring, said deflecting lens engaging said gasket, a bulb mounted on said reflector, said body and tubular member threaded portion have ing interengaging portions to hold said tubular portions against free rotation on the 'body.

2. In a flashlight sub-assembly, a tubular member having an inwardly directed flange at the front end and having'an enlarged threaded portion at the rear end, an annular'bead at the inner end of the threaded portion, a shoulder adjacent to the inner end of said bead, a transparent disc lar .member .is also provided with a corrugation 54 which fits in a notch :55 and the ring.53 to center the parts. .In the modification a deflecting lens 56 .is provided and includes .rib lens members 57 with a groove 58 therebetween in which the free ends of the blades .54 are seated.

The lens 56 in the modification engages a shoulder 59 on the tubular member 50 and is held on the tubular member by the inturned flange 60. The member :50 is shown as mounted on a flashlight .body member 62. .A reflector is indicated at .63 and includes a flange 64 which engages the end of the body 62. The body 62 is threaded as at 65 and the threads 65 are engaged by threads 6.6 on a collar 61 which .has an end flange 68 which engages the shoulder 59 on the tubular member 58.

The member 59 forms a sub-assembly unit which .is arranged upon the flange 64 of the reflector 63 when the latter is seated on the end of the body 62. The collar 61 is then screwed into place so that .its flange 68 engages the shoulder 59 and serves to hold the parts assembled.

It .is to be noted that the rays A passing from the reflector are parallel and that the rays do not touch the parallel louvre blades after passing through the deflecting lens 23,

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have invented a novel non-glare flashlight which can be economically manufactured and assembled and which is highly effieient forits intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

.1. In a flashlight, a hollow body having a threaded front end, a tubular member having an inwardly directed flange at the front end and having an enlarged threaded portion at the rear end engaging said body threaded portion, anannular bead at the inner end'of the threaded portion, .a shoulder adjacentto the inner end of said head. a transparent .discclosure member in said closure member in said tubular member and engaging said flange, a louvre member having an annular ring engaging said transparent member, means to prevent rotation of said ring relative to the tubular member, a plurality of parallel louvre blades secured at their front edges to said ring and extending rearwardly therefrom, the rear ends of said'blades'being coplanar, alight deflecting lens adjacent said tubular member shoulder and comprising a transparent disc having a planar rear face and having a plurality of light transmitting ribs .on the front face thereof, a reflector in said tubular member, and a bulb mounted on said reflector.

3. In a flashlight, a hollow body having a threaded front end, a tubular member having an inwardly directed flange at the front end and having an enlarged threaded portion at the rear end engaging said body threaded portion, a transparent disc closure member in said tubular member and engaging said flange, a louvre member including an annular ring engaging said transparent member, a plurality of parallel louvre blades secured at their front edges to said ring extending rearwardly therefrom, the interior of the forward end of the tubular member and the surface of said blades being non-reflecting, the rear ends of said blades being coplanar, a light deflecting lens comprising a transparent disc having a planar rear face and having a plurality of light "transmitting ribs on the front face thereof, each rib having a configuration to direct light rays converging-1y forward to a focus midway between the adjacent louvres and just in the rear of the transparent closure, there being a groove between each 'pair of ribs, the blades being arranged parallel to the axis of the tubular memberflthe blades of said louvres having their ends releasably engaging in one of the grooves on the deflecting lens, a reflector in said tubular member, a bulb in said reflector, means to hold .said louvre member against rotation on the tubular member and means to hold said tubular member against rotation on the body.

GEORGE H. SEAL. 

